The Italian Ministry of Culture refuses to leave an information-starved public starving when it comes to the most famous archaeological site in the world. He will thus be able to enjoy a still life unearthed during excavations on the walls of an ancient house. A round, rounded piece of bread sits on a silver platter next to a cup of wine, pomegranates and dates. It was enough to whet the appetites.“It is impossible not to think of pizza, born as a ‘poor’ dish in southern Italy, which has now conquered the whole world”, commented Gabriel Zuchtriegel, the director of the Pompeii site. However, tomatoes, which arrived in Europe in the 16th century, are missing.
The fresco, undeniably fresh and delicate, is perfectly preserved. It represents a Xenia. It is a present of hospitality offered to guests in the Greek tradition from the 3rd to the 1st century BC. J.-C. “Pompeii never ceases to amaze us, said the Minister of Culture, it is a setting that always reveals new treasures. » Everything is good to feed the interest aroused by this real tourist “goose that lays the golden egg”. The number of visitors in the first half of 2023 is 127% higher than in 2022 over the same period. On July 16, a direct rail link between Rome and Pompeii was inaugurated. What fuel a little more mass tourism that afflicts the Peninsula and alert those who advocate greater attention to preserve a fragile archaeological site.
